Hello everyone! Today we hear from Abhijeet Roy, who successfully navigated the challenging SSC CGL exam journey. He started with SSC MTS and eventually achieved his goal, likely an Inspector post based on the interview context. His story is one of perseverance, overcoming self-doubt, and adapting to changes.
Let’s learn from his experiences.
Meet Abhijeet Roy
Every success story begins with struggle and perseverance. Abhijeet Roy’s journey from SSC MTS to likely securing an Inspector post through SSC CGL Exam is a true testament to dedication and resilience.
- Name: Abhijeet Roy
- From: Bhadreswar, Hooghly District, West Bengal
- Graduation: 2019 from Calcutta University
- First Job: SSC MTS 2020 (Income Tax Dept., Hubli, Karnataka – worked for 1 year)
- Current Status: Cleared CGL 2023 (Likely Inspector post)
- Background: Comes from a middle-class family with limited resources, making a government job the primary goal.
The Journey: From Doubt to Success
SSC CGL Exam Preparation isn’t just about books and mock tests — it’s a test of patience, resilience, and the will to bounce back after every setback.”
Attempt | Year | Stage | Performance & Key Events | Remarks |
1st | 2019 | Tier 1 | Gave exam as an appearing candidate; missed cutoff by 0.53/0.54 marks | Felt overwhelmed, thought toppers were from “another universe” |
2nd | 2020 | Tier 1 & Tier 2 | Tier 1: >160 normalized; Tier 2: Poor performance under pressure, fell asleep during English paper | Couldn’t handle pressure, called it a “complete mess” |
3rd | 2021 | Tier 1, Tier 2 & Descriptive | Maths: 182, English: 180; Missed final merit by 0.5 marks due to low descriptive score (39) | Intense prep while working private tuitions, “turned day into night” |
MTS Selection | 2020 | – | Joined MTS and posted in Karnataka | Continued CGL prep while working |
4th | 2022 | Cleared CGL | Selected as Accountant in CAG | Happy with result; stopped prep, focused on job |
5th | 2023 | Tier 1 & Tier 2 | Tier 1: 173 raw, ~176 normalized; Mains prep for ~2.5 months | “The lamp hadn’t gone out yet” — reignited ambition |
Final Success | CGL 2023 | Final Selection | Cleared CGL; achieved dream post | Result of 3–4 years of persistence |
Key Challenges & How He Overcame Them
Obstacles are inevitable, but overcoming them shapes the path to success. Let’s explore the challenges Abhijeet faced and the strategies he used to overcome them.
- Self-Doubt: Initially felt he couldn’t compete.
- Overcame by: Persistent effort, gradual improvement (“grooming happened”), and gaining confidence after getting the MTS job.
- Exam Pressure/Temperament: Struggled in his first Mains.
- Overcame by: Experience and continued attempts.
- Pattern Change (2022): Had to adapt to the new syllabus and weightage (more focus on all subjects, less on just Maths/English).
- Overcame by: Accepting the change and preparing accordingly. Found GK challenging but managed it with help (mentioned Parmar sir) and self-study.
- Balancing Job & Studies: Prepared for CGL 2022/2023 while working in MTS, facing time constraints and work pressure (especially in Intelligence & Criminal Investigation section).
- Overcame by: Dedication and utilizing available time effectively (e.g., studying intensely during the 2.5 months before 2023 Mains).
Strategy & Advice
Cracking the SSC CGL exam isn’t just about studying hard, it’s about preparing smartly. Based on real experiences from toppers like Abhijeet, here’s a detailed breakdown of what worked for them and how you can apply it to your own journey.
Category | Insights & Strategy |
Consistency | The journey spanned multiple years, proving that persistent effort matters more than short-term speed. |
Adaptability | Quickly adapted to the new SSC CGL Exam Pattern, which was crucial for success. |
Holistic Preparation | Under the new SSC CGL Syllabus, every subject — Maths, Reasoning, English, GK — is important. No section can be ignored. |
Self-Study Focus | Attributes success to 60% self-study and 40% guidance. Believes personal discipline and revision are key. |
Handwritten Notes | Vital for revision. Especially helpful in the last 50 days. Suggested making notes for weaker areas. |
Old vs. New Pattern | – Old Tier 2: Rated as much tougher. – New Tier 2: Roughly 40% difficulty of the old one, but syllabus is still similar. |
Tier 1 Strategy | Tier 1 is now qualifying, but preparation must be at Tier 2 level from the start. |
Tier 2 (Last 50 Days) | – Focus on revision over new topics after first 10–15 days. – Use handwritten notes. – Don’t waste time doubting Tier 1 clearance — prepare full throttle. |
Mocks (Tier 1) | If syllabus is done, 1 mock per day in the last 40–50 days. |
Mocks (Tier 2) | Due to job, gave 2 per week, but ideally 1 per day is better. |
Mock Platform of Choice | Oliveboard Live Mocks – Never missed them. Found helpful for: – Real exam feel – High-quality English section – Benchmarking via rank/percentile |
Mock Strategy | Focused not just on score, but on getting under top 1000 ranks in live mocks. |
Dealing with Failure | Believes setbacks deepen the value of success, but notes that new pattern makes success more accessible even without deep failure experiences. |
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